The jeep drove easily over the hills. At the wheel was a young man, and his sister sat in the passenger seat. A dog was with them in the back seat.

"Are you sure this is the way they went?" Jake asked, looking in all directions while still focusing on the terrain ahead.

"Hush!" Whispered Nicole. "It looks like we're in wolf territory." The jeep came to a halt, but the humans did not get out. "Maybe they're here."

Fox began barking wildly at the wolves. "Please don't hurt my masters!" He said, wagging his stump of a tail.

Jake pulled the tranquilizer gun from behind his seat, if he should need it.

The humans studied the wolves carefully, trying not to startle them.

His closed eyes made the oncoming sounds of the jeep very obvious indeed, as did the barked request of the canine therein.

Fortunately for all of them, Eytan was not an aggressive sort. He ruled the Ochotona Mountains pack in peace, a fostering pack open to all comers. Indeed, he was getting old, second only to Blind, and he was finally beginning to feel his age. Arthritis was setting in gradually, though he noted it only as a minor stiffness where his elder friend was almost paralyzed by the pain. He was now passing into the years where he would be more use as a respected elder than as a warrior. It was this wolf who answered the call of a strange dog, eyes on the jeep and single ear perking to catch the sounds therein. Finally, he stepped forward, though he kept his body behind a tree in case the man should decide to fire the tranquilizer he carried. But he was still very visible to them, and his eyes met theirs, curious where they had been afraid in his youth. He remained wordless, only watching.

Fox hopped to the space between the two front seats so he could get a better view of the wolf. He tilted his head and a gleam of curiosity could be seen in his bronze eyes. Wolves seemed so...shy. "Hi!" He barked. "I'm Fox! Is this your territory?"

Nicole held a machine in her hands. She pressed a button and it flashed and made an odd noise. She took a few more pictures before setting the camera down.

Jake made a howling noise, trying to attract the attention of the other wolves. These were magnificent creatures indeed.

Fox's words caused the lone ear to perk again, and his voice was smooth authority as he replied. No, I do not rule this pack, nor do I reside here. I am here to return a favor for a friend. I rule the Ochotona Mountains, some half-day's journey from here.

From his journey's among the humans, he recognized the picture-box. He wasn't sure how, but he did know that it reproduced a non-living image of whatever it clicked at. So he stood still and looked full at the camera, allowing Nicole to take her photos without protest. After all, it didn't hurt him.

Jake's howling noise made him look up, a small but kind-hearted chuckle leaving his lips. Does your master always insist upon speaking nonsense?

Fox laughed. "The man doesn't know much about animals. He's an arc...He studies old things. The girl knows animals. She's an animal scientist." He said happily. Eytan seemed like a great friend, and Fox hoped that they would be able to meet again after the humans continue on their journeys.

Nicole stepped out of the vehicle and watched Eytan. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. She had had close encounters with captive wolves, but had never met one so wild. She pulled a dog treat out of her pocket that would normally be fed to Fox and offered it to Eytan. She tossed about halfway to him, speaking softly. She signaled to her brother to lower the gun.

Jake did as he was told and put the gun in the empty passenger seat.

Fox jumped out through the open door and stood by his master. "That's a dog treat, in case you don't know. They taste really good." He said, wagging his naturally short tail.

Eytan eyed the little peice of meat, still wondering whether these two-legs were of the good or bad kind. Finally, he scooped up the treat in his tongue, tail waving shyly. He did not move any closer, but he did not run, either. As he saw it, he had lived a long and healthy life, with many to love him and to love back, and even if these did mean him harm, he could go out with a smile. So he reached his nose forward, smelling of Nicole. His tail waved a bit more boldly, for she did not smell of evil, not of blood or fear. And as the gun was put away, he stepped from behind the tree, allowing her to see all of him and use the picture-box again if she wanted. He was liberally scarred, as she would be able to see, for few wolves around these parts lived to be his age without seeing and winning their share of fights, and his missing ear spoke testament to a hard past, but Eytan had met life with wisdom and grace, and it showed in him.

His voice lifted again, soft and friendly. Ah, I see that your mistress is very interested in my kind, yes?

Nicole smiled and pulled her camera out again. "That's a good wolf..." She said softly, as if she were speaking to a newborn baby. She took a few more pictures, then knelt down on the grass and reached her arm out slowly. "Come on. Here, boy..."

Fox nodded. "Yeah...She drags us to wolf conservation centers all the time. The wolves there are far away in fields and the fences block us from going any closer. She rarely gets to see a wolf in the wild as kind as yourself." He said.

"Careful, Nikki..." Jake warned, keeping his voice low. "Those things can be dangerous, you know." He did not even look at the gun lying in the passenger seat, fearing that any movements would scare the wolf.

DAD! COME ON DAD! CAN'T CATCH ME! The dusty grey female raced past her solid black father, and as she looked behind her when suddenly she slammed headlong into Nicole. She gave a startled yelp then leapt backwards her eyes wide. Hey! DAD! COME CHECK THIS OUT! But at his daughters yelp, the massive black male came forth his tail raised and his lips curled in a silent snarl. His black hackles were raised, and his eyes. Oh his eyes how they were alight with fire. The most unusual of coloration they were, nearly an emerald green, but flecks of gold filtered through them. Autumn. Thats the first thing that should come to mind. No noise escaped him, and as he came forth his tail and hackles lowered but there was something dark and deadly in those eyes. His daughter, his rules.

She didn't even pay attention to her vicious looking father. She was to busy staring up at these....Things! Dad! Look! They're play things! She suddenly took hold of Nicoles pant leg with her sharp puppy teeth and began to tug sharply upon them. Sliver! Get away from...It. His experience with humans was not a good one, and these two were very lucky they were still alive. The only reason they were? Eytan hadn't attacked yet. He merely ignored Fox, should the dog attack well....There wasn't much damage the corgi could do.

Eytan stretched out his nose to smell of Nicole's hand, tail waving more as he responded to Fox. Not everyone is like me, for certain. In my lifetime I have learned that there are good two-legs and bad two-legs, just like wolves. Your mistress seems one of the good kind. And he nudged his muzzle up into her hand, permission for her to use those deft paws of hers to scratch between his ears. It was his favorite place to be scratched, and his old bones did not permit him to reach it himself anymore.

But Sliver's sudden arrival startled him, and her father's aggression made him speak softly. Easy, my friend. The girl means no harm. She wants only to make images with the box-that-whirrs. She'll not hurt your daughter.

Nicole was about to laugh when she saw the puppy. "Hey there, little..." She was silent when she saw the daddy. She didn't want to scream. But she didn't want to run, either.

Jake reached out to grab the gun, but Nicole lifted her hand, a way of telling him to stop.

Fox barked at the dad. "Leave my master alone! She wouldn't hurt your puppy!" He exclaimed.

"STOP!" A demanding voice came from the trees. Dove had left her children with Rex. "Don't touch the humans!" She had once lived with humans and knew what they were capable of. But she also knew that not all of them were the same. This kind of human was usually nice. If a pet dog could be this happy around them, why not a wolf? "Little dog," She said, looking at Fox, "Do not hurt this wolf. Wolves are usually not accustomed to having humans in their land. I will speak to the wolf for you and your masters."

Dove approached the wolf boldly. "This human is kind to us. She is only learning more about us, as many wolves go into human lands to study the two-legged creatures. If you do no harm to her, she will do none to you." She stood between Nicole and the pack, watching each one, ready to defend the human.

Nicole scratched Eytan's head, still keeping an eye on the others. She wanted to get away from this place, but at the same time she didn't. She was curious about these creatures. How one could be so friendly while the other so vicious. Either way, she smiled at Eytan. "Good boy..." She said.

Fox kept watching Silver's father. "See this!" He said. "My master is only petting Eytan!"

Jake stayed in the safety of the jeep, and his eyes never left the group.

His eyes flickered to the dog once more, then toward Dove. There was something in the fathers eyes, but not the same as before. He'd already lost two of his children. If he lost another, he would never forgive himself. Camarin came forth and grabbed hold of Slivers scruff, tugging her off of Nicoles pant leg. Humans do nothing but horrors. Even the kind ones. He didn't voice that part, but he knew. When he was younger, he had seen two humans such as these. They had tried to help his brother, his horribly wrong brother with his blind sight and deaf ears. They had killed him.

Sliver whimpered slightly as her father spoke and took her away from her new play toy. But, dad.... She said softly to him. Camarin said nothing in response. He wasn't going to lose another child.

Blind came forth, her ancient bones cracking and creaking from her own arthritis. She would not cry, she would not whimper. She had scented the humans, their companion. She was limping severely, trying her hardest to move on. She wished to be near her alpha, for her ears.....They were beginning to fail her. Dear Blind didn't have much left life left in her, but she was trying her hardest.

Moonpaw looked at the pups and told them to stay. She stood and walked right up to the girl human. She peered around her leg and looked at fox. "Hi! You're a cute dog!" She turned to Camarin. "Stop being a worrywort! She walked yo him and gave the wolf a friendly nudge. Moonpaw looked at the human, as if to say, You got any more treats?

Fox smiled. "Why, thank you." He said, wagging his stumpy tail. "You're a pretty wolf!"

Nicole smiled when Moonpaw came. "Hello there, wolf." She said, pulling another treat out of her pocket and setting it on the ground.

The 'fearless' Jake stayed in the jeep, still watching the group of wolves.

Nicole pulled out her camera and took a few more pictures.

Moonpaw looked at the man and shook her head sadly. "I like your masters! They give treats!" She gobbled up the treat and went over to the man. She wound around his feet like a very lerge cat and smiled. She was going to give wolves a good reputation.

His newfound hearing talent made it clear that Blind was approaching behind him, and limping, too. So he waved his tail a little at Nicole and took a few steps back, standing next to Blind so that she could disguise her weakness, if she wanted. Let the humans believe that they were related, let them believe that they were mates, whatever they wanted, but all Blind really had left was love and pride. He would help her to preserve those things if he could. He leaned his face up to her ear, voice a murmur. Something wrong?

As Camarin moved away with his daughter, another wolf passed him heading for the humans. This one was much like the father as far as they were concerned, but with much more concern. With narrowed eyes, Vestige lifted his tail, signalling he was in charge. As he neared the group, the wolf pulled back his gums, revealing sharp canine fangs. His white coat was starting to grow back around his neck injury, but the scar was still visable, and the ugly deformity that half his neck was missing. They were in his land, what did they think they were doing?! Good or not, they were humans. A low rumble started now in the back of his throat as he made a wolvern barricade in front of Moonpaw, he began to push her back, away from the humans. If the girl had been scared of Camarin's attitude, then this was worse. Multiple scars adorned the arctic wolf's body and his peircing blue eyes narrowed even more dangerously. Without turning his head to the gathered wolves, Vestige spoke to them. What the hell are they doing here?!

Jagged slipped past Eytan to stand a few feet behind his father. Uh, Dad, I think they're OK. The pack doesn't mind them, neither does Eytan or Blind. So...

Well I'm not taking any chances, I've lost a lot already, and I'm not going to let these two-leggers off easily because they seem to be alright. With the two new litters of pups, I have a lot to be responsible for. Finally, however, the alpha dropped the growling, but his body posture still signalled that he didn't like this. Aggressive? Yes. He met the girls eyes and snarled for a second or two, a signal that ment, submit. Once this was done, then maybe he would let them stay...

His eyes were fire bright upon his mate now, and there seemed to be that dark something there, that dark something that no one ever got to see. Your to trusting Moonpaw. You know not of the evil deeds of humans. He could still hear his brothers tortured cries as rock after rock beat upon him. Something in the male wanted to beat into his mate what had been beaten into him. Pain, the constant suffering and pain that he had endured.

Blind gave a weak smile to her alpha, and she leaned a bit of her weight upon him. Her voice was soft and gentle, but in it was a note of weariness. My ancient bones, they are speaking of retirement. But she still had to take care of Nok....Or find someone else to care for her.

Dove growled at the group of wolves. "Sorry to be rude, but you are all being foolish!" She said. "I have lived with humans before and they are perfectly good creatures! Sure, some are bad, but does that mean that all of them are bad?!" Anger was building up inside of her and she didn't want to see the humans hurt. They were like her pack.

Nicole slowly dropped to the ground in a submissive posture. She avoided eye contact with Vestige or Camarin.

Fox tilted his head. "You know, she's not going to hurt you. She only wants to learn more about you." He informed.

This time, Jake barely looked at the tranquilizer gun. It was there in case he needed it.

Nok followed her friend's trail to the Aspen Grove. She made a quiet whining noise when she saw Blind. She didn't look as well as she was the last time she saw her. "B...Blin'!" She exclaimed, running to the group. She growled at Nicole. "Lady." She sat down by Blind. "'Umans...bad!" She had been poisoned by humans, causing neurological damage. This has led her to believe that all humans are bad.

Eytan allowed Blind to lean her weight on him, and his soft voice responded to hers. Yes, I understand. Mine are beginning their complaints, though I'm sure not as badly as your own. We are getting old, my friend.

But the tenseness caused Eytan to raise his voice again, calm and collected. For heaven's sake. If you do not wish to be among the humans, then go. Parents, take your pups if you must, and leave these be. They've not harmed anyone, and they deserve the same chance as any of us to prove their good intentions. There are many places in your land you can go if you do not wish them to find you. But these humans are now under my protection, and any who damage them will answer to me. He did not move, for he did not want to remove his support from Blind, but his voice was firm and clear.

Thunder, Eytan's youngest, came trotting into the packlands behind Nok, whom he had adopted as his friend, promising that he would take care of her as she learned to talk. He came up beside her and bared his little puppy fangs at the humans, growling softly. They were frightening Nok! But his father's words silenced his vocal protests, though he was still tense.

As she heard her friends voice, a gentle smile crossed her lips. Nok, a pleasure to see you again. Well...Sort of see you. In a slightly reprimanding tone, she replied to Eytan Not everyone has had good experiences with humans, Eytan. Just because a human seems kind, and they think they are doing right, does not always make it so. Perhaps the others have had gruesome experiences with humans. Dove, the same to you. How would you feel if your father were killed by humans? Even a seemingly kind human, such as these two. You should not be fooled because they have another of our kind with them. Even she didn't have the best experience with humans. It was they who had taken away her pictures, her life. Or so it had seemed at pup hood. She had had sight for nearly two weeks when humans came upon the Den and...Well, taken her sight somehow.

"Just because one human is bad doesn't mean they're all bad." She said. "And if my father was killed by humans..." She paused, trying not to think of what she was speaking about. "I do not hold hate in my heart. If Glider was killed by a human, I would forgive that human. Humans have done me wrong and my father wrong, yet I do not hate them. I forgive them and give them a second chance. That is the kind of creature I am." She sat down and looked at Nicole, wagging her tail.

Eytan nodded confirmation of Blind's words, though she couldn't see it, but he soon spoke again, voice soft. All the same, Blind, it is no reason to attack those two-legs who have done no harm. I myself am no stranger to their many sins and virtues. Remind me one day to tell you of my travels among the two-legs. That... the past. No one... not even Nita knew about that.

Nita... his mind traveled sadly to his mate, for he had not seen her in quite some time. And he was, of course, worried. But he forced his mind back to the task at hand: defending the innocent girl from those who would harm her. I have said it and I say again: unless this girl does us harm, we have no call to hurt her. I stand on that ground.

Moonpaw looked to her pups and barked. They all came tumbling towards them and yipped.She went to Nicole and nuzzled her pantleg. She liked humans.

Nicole stood up and smiled. "Hey, little puppies!" She said. "Sorry. I have to go now." She walked to the jeep and motioned for Fox to follow.

Fox smiled at his new friends. "I hope I can see you guys again sometime. Maybe Nicole will let me visit you later." He said, then walked to his owner.

Nicole picked Fox up, put him in the back seat, and took one last picture of the group. She then got into the passenger seat.

Jake started the vehicle and drove away.